conveniences generally found as belonging to the cabin: while a
spinning-wheel, furnished by the Linen Board, and a loom, ornament
vacant spaces that otherwise would remain unfurnished. In fitting
up the latter, which cannot on any occasion or by any display add a
feather to the weight or importance expected to be excited by the
appearance of the former, the inventory is limited to one, and
sometimes two beds, serving for the repose of the whole family!
However downy these may be to limbs impatient for rest, their
coverings appear to be very slight, and the whole of the apartment
created reflections of a very painful nature. Under such
privations, with a wet mud floor and a roof in tatters, how idle the
search for comforts!"--Curwen, i., pp. 112, 113.


To this extract we shall add one more on the same subject.


"The gigantic figure, bareheaded before me, had a beard that would
not have disgraced an ancient Israelite--he was without shoes or
stockings--and almost a sans-culotte--with a coat, or rather a
jacket, that appeared as if the first blast of wind would tear it to
tatters. Though his garb was thus tattered, he had a manly
commanding countenance. I asked permission to see the inside of his
cabin, to which I received his most courteous assent. On stooping
to enter at the door I was stopped, and found that permission from
another was necessary before I could be admitted. A pig, which was
fastened to a stake driven into the floor, with length of rope
sufficient to permit him the enjoyment of sun and air, demanded some
courtesy, which I showed him, and was suffered to enter. The wife
was engaged in boiling thread, and by her side, near the fire, a